Kittle solid blocker, maybe more
You hear the question every year at the NFL Combine and just once you would like a player to answer, 无毛视频淭his one. This is the dumbest question I无毛视频檝e heard.无毛视频�
But every year it comes around:
What无毛视频檚 the dumbest question you无毛视频檝e heard?
无毛视频淪omeone asked me if I was a cat or a dog,无毛视频� said George Kittle.
He无毛视频檚 a tight end for Iowa and he was kicked back in his chair looking all brutish but at the same time relaxed.
Well, what did you say?
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 a dog,无毛视频� Kittle said with a smirk. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 going after that bone.无毛视频�
Woof.
Kittle (6-3 3/4, 247) is a blocking tight end, but he seems to be more than that, because he doesn无毛视频檛 just block, he embarrasses.
And that无毛视频檚 one element the Steelers really could use at the position. It无毛视频檚 why lineman Chris Hubbard played so much as a third tight end last season. It无毛视频檚 why David Johnson was signed so quickly this offseason. More of a journeyman fullback/H-back type, Johnson is the best blocker they have at the position.
The Steelers have a serious pass-catching threat there in Ladarius Green, and in Jesse James they have someone who无毛视频檚 developing into an all-around No. 2. And Xavier Grimble shows playmaking potential. But when it comes to knocking someone on his butt, or sealing the corner the way Matt Spaeth used to, the Steelers come up shy.
Has Kittle heard the tag 无毛视频渂locking tight end无毛视频�?
无毛视频淵es, sir,无毛视频� he said.
Does it bother him?
无毛视频淣o, not at all,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚 know I无毛视频檓 a versatile tight end, but if someone wants to label me as a 无毛视频榖locking tight end无毛视频� I无毛视频檒l take that, because I came in at 200 pounds and I was not a blocking tight end. Over the past five years I无毛视频檝e put on 50 pounds and that无毛视频檚 something I无毛视频檝e really put my mindset to, and something I无毛视频檝e been really proud of. So, if you want to call me a blocking tight end, that无毛视频檚 fine and I无毛视频檒l show I can do other things as well.无毛视频�
The next day Kittle did just that. His Combine times were some of the more surprising of the week. He ran his 40 in 4.52 with a 35-inch vertical jump and an 11-0 broad jump. Those are first-round numbers.
Kittle can catch the ball as well, but his 2016 stats show only 22 receptions for 314 yards and four touchdowns. He struggled with an injured foot.
无毛视频淚t was a mid-foot sprain and the only treatment for it was rest, which is hard to do in the middle of the football season,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淟ast season I wasn无毛视频檛 going to sit out unless they made me.无毛视频�
Kittle无毛视频檚 being graded by media analysts as a fourth through sixth-rounder, which would be perfect for a Steelers team that has more important needs. But Kittle, unlike most players at the Combine, wouldn无毛视频檛 comment on the level of interest any team had shown.
无毛视频淛ust for the team无毛视频檚 privacy I无毛视频檓 keeping that to myself,无毛视频� he said.
Kittle did spend four years playing in Iowa无毛视频檚 black and gold. And his coach, Kirk Ferentz, is a Western Pa. native. Does Kittle have any kind of affinity for the team?
无毛视频淵eah, I love the Steelers,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淏lack and gold looks good, man.无毛视频�
My take
Obviously, I无毛视频檓 a George Kittle fan, particularly if the Steelers can grab him in the fourth round. My guess is he无毛视频檒l need to be taken in the third round. My other favorites are monstrous Adam Shaheen (6-6 1/2, 278), the Pitt-Johnstown transfer to Ashland, and Jonnu Smith (6-2 1/2, 248), the poor guy who had boiling water poured over his head by a pregnant girlfriend who was feeling unappreciated because of his devotion to football. My guess is the Steelers won无毛视频檛 feel the need to tend to this well-stocked draft position until taking a late-round project for the practice squad.
Value board
Third Round 无毛视频� Adam Shaheen, Ashland; George Kittle, Iowa.
Fourth Round 无毛视频� Jonnu Smith, Florida International.
Fifth Round 无毛视频� Michael Roberts, Toledo.
Sixth Round 无毛视频� Scott Orndoff, Pitt; Blake Jarwin, Oklahoma State.
Seventh Round 无毛视频� Josiah Price, Michigan State; Jason Croom, Tennessee; Sam Rogers (FB), Virginia Tech.